This news article was published under
the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

“I am delighted to have had such an early opportunity to meet my colleagues from South East Asia. Both the UK and EU’s relationship with countries across the region is of the utmost importance. We share many common challenges, from the global economy and climate change to security, and there is an increasing convergance in our views on how best to tackle them. South East Asia is also a key trade partner with the UK, with UK exports to the region rivaling those of exports to China and India. And it is vital that trade and market access policies play their part in the global economic recovery.”